Boguniecki named AHL Player of the Week

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Bridgeport Sound Tigers center Eric Boguniecki has been named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending March 11, 2007.

Boguniecki tallied four goals and five assists for nine points in three critical East Division games for the Sound Tigers.

On Friday night vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Boguniecki assisted on the game-tying goal late in the third period before scoring on his shootout attempt in Bridgeport’s 3-2 SO loss to the Penguins. One night later, he sparked a Sound Tigers rally with a goal and three assists – all in the third period – of a 5-4 win over Philadelphia. And Sunday, Boguniecki picked up four more points, including his first hat trick in more than five years, to pace Bridgeport to a 5-4 win over Hershey.

In recognition of his achievement, Boguniecki will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Sound Tigers home game.

Acquired by the New York Islanders from Columbus on Oct. 25, 2006, Boguniecki ranks second on the Bridgeport roster with 21 goals and 49 points in 44 games as a Sound Tiger after beginning the season with Syracuse. The native of nearby New Haven, Conn., also leads the club with nine power-play goals and five game-winning goals on the year. The AHL’s most valuable player in 2001-02 and a three-time AHL All-Star, Boguniecki has totaled 136 goals and 168 assists for 304 points in 278 career AHL games. He also has 34 goals and 42 assists for 76 points in 178 career NHL games, including 11 contests this season with the Islanders.

Other nominees for CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week include Albany center Keith Aucoin, Chicago right wing Niko Dimitrakos, Grand Rapids right wing Jamie Tardif, Hartford center Jarkko Immonen, Hershey right wing Alexandre Giroux, Houston goaltender Dieter Kochan, Manchester defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky, Manitoba right wing Lee Goren, Milwaukee right wing Pat Leahy, Norfolk right wing Troy Brouwer, Peoria right wing Mike Glumac, Philadelphia right wing Eric Meloche, Portland center Mark Hartigan, Providence center David Krejci, San Antonio center Donald MacLean, Syracuse left wing Curtis Glencross, Toronto goaltender Justin Pogge and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton center Ryan Stone.

Also see: Previous winners, CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week